Bay of Fundy

TIME TO ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS

(By Steve Dunlop)

With all the recent talk on record gas prices and the faltering economy, now is the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors. There is no better way to enjoy nature than to go camping. Camping is a great way to escape the everyday hectic pace of life. There are thousands of campgrounds all across North America and most likely you have a few parks and campgrounds close to where you live. Spending a weekend or part of your vacation camping will eliminate the costs of expensive hotels and if you decide to camp close to home, as opposed to traveling far, you will save money on gas. Depending on your camping habits you will most likely help the environment also.

While camping, a lot of people decide to pitch a tent. You can always find a campground with a cabin if you aren't a tent enthusiast. While camping there are numerous activities you can enjoy. You can plan to backpack on close by hiking trails or though the woods. Hiking allows you to appreciate nature, clear your mind and it is great exercise. Many campsites have bike trails handy. You can get bike racks to put on your vehicle, or if you are real enthusiastic you can bike to your destination. Canoeing or kayaking is very popular as well. There is nothing more relaxing as taking a kayak across a calm lake.

Fly-fishing, angling and other types of fishing are popular activities as well while camping.

At the end of an adventurous day, you can sit back and have a BBQ. You can purchase small propane barbecues that you can carry with you easily for less than thirty dollars. And when the sun goes down you can build a campfire and sit back and have a cool beverage. I do wish to stress that campfires should only be part your camping experience when conditions permit.

Keep in mind that not activities require camping. You can decide to take outdoor day adventures close to home. They would include biking, hiking, kayaking and many other ventures. I often go for a 90-minute hike through the Nature Park overlooking the spectacular Bay of Fundy after work or on the weekend. It is a nice way to get exercise and relieve stress.

As I am writing this, I am getting the camping bug (no pun intended as I don't care for bugs). I am going to get my tent and barbecue ready and head to a nearby campground soon.